Happy Thanksgiving!

Once again, much has happened since the last time I posted. In September, we took Brady to Italy with us for 11 days! He was a FABULOUS traveler, and we couldn't have been more proud.

On the way there, the flight attendant came over to us right after take off to see what we had selected from the dinner menu. Brady didn't miss a beat, he immediately exclaimed, 'I want fish!' After awhile, the same lady came by with the appetizer cart...she asked him if he would like an appetizer, to which he threw his arms in the air and yelled out, 'I LOVE appetizers!!!' By the time we landed in Amsterdam, he had made several friends sitting around us.

We had many lovely adventures while we were there, probably the most memorable for him was the 4 hour train ride through the Alps to go see his friend Lucas in Switzerland. The boys were joyfully re-united, and Brandon and I had a fun time seeing our old friends as well. We're sad they live so far away, but Geneva is a beautiful place to visit for sure!

Then in early November, we travelled to the ranch. What made it extra fun this year was that my sister, Ivy, and her family met us there. Her daughter is only 10 months older than Brady, and they had an absolute blast between making snow people, riding 4 wheelers, and working in the tractor with Papa. We all had a wonderful time and were sad when it was time to get back to reality.

The picture I've posted above is Brady's first school pic. I can't believe he already has one of these! We called them Pony Pictures when I was growing up. He's really doing great at his school, and seems to really love it. In fact, when we went around the table on Thanksgiving to say what we were thankful for, he thought about it for a minute, and then a slow smile spread over his face as he told us that he is thankful for Ms. Jessica. His teacher!!! Right when she started there, he told me one afternoon in the car that he thought Ms. Jessica was 'pretty and shiny'. His first crush!

He's full of funny sayings lately. The other day, we were getting ready to leave, but couldn't find his shoes. I finally found them upstairs and called out, 'I found them!' As I came down the stairs with the shoes, Brady said, 'Mommy, you are Super Duper!'

Yesterday, we were driving to the store and he told Brandon and I that it is now 'Christmas On Time'. (ChristmasTime)

The biggest news of all is that yesterday he proudly announced that he only wanted to wear undies...no more pull-ups. I knew this day would come, and I was very thankful it came over a long weekend, so we talked through what wearing undies today would mean before bed lastnight. He was very excited this morning to get rid of that pull-up and get to the undies. Unfortunately, the dots weren't quite connected between wearing undies and having to go to the potty when you have to go... He's never been a kid that goes through tons of diapers, so even though we had 3-4 accidents today, I really think it could have been much worse. He did go #2 on the potty, so I think that's a good thing! He'll get it!

Well, that's what's new here! Hope all is well!

Hurricane, Lake Week, etc.

Unfortunately, I've been a bit remiss about putting up posts lately. There's a lot to catch up on! In August, we met my entire family for a week at Big Pine Lake in MN. We had a ball, and I had so much fun introducing my guys to the ways of MN lake life!

More recently, we encountered Mr. Ike, the hurricane. We were home for the storm, and it was pretty scary (although Brady and I slept through the worst of it when the trees were actually coming down). Then the next day, we decided we would just get out of dodge. So, we headed to Austin for a few days! When we returned from Austin, the power came back within a couple hours, so the timing couldn't have been better! We feel very thankful to have come through this without any major damage as we've seen several houses with trees through the roofs, cars smashed, etc.

Sorry, I always forget which order blogger puts the photos in. I need to get packing for Italy, so I don't have time right now to put these in the right order. So, you're seeing Escape to Austin, then Ike, then the lake!

Brady was chosen to ring the bell at sunset at The Oasis. This is a tradition, and they chose him out of all the people there!!

High fivin' daddy while enjoying sunset overlooking Lake Travis.

Big tree uprooted in our backyard!

This is our backyard after the storm. It rained for probably 12 more hours after this (we left for Austin), and there was a thunderstorm this night!

This is my whole family with 'the pig' that the men roasted! Crazy!!


Chris, Brandon, and Ken with the pig!


Cousin Allegra and Brady with their turtle before Perham's International Turtle Races .

Captain Brandon (look-out!!!)

Brady and I with Chris holding what I thought was a HUGE Northern (we threw it back-not huge for a Northern)

Brady with Madelyn and Io playing with Madelyn's

A New Era

It's a new day at the Foster's. Brady has started potty training! A couple nights ago, Brady and I watched, 'Once Upon a Potty for him'. Brandon was out of town and I figured we would watch the video several times before anything would actually happen. WRONG! Brady really enjoyed the video, and after watching it once (it's only about 10 mins long), he said, 'I want to do it.' So we got out the potty chair and he sat right down and did it! Funny how proud a parent can be of something like this!

Here's a pic of him in his 'big boy' underwear. He's really jazzed about his McQueen pull-ups, too. Who knows how long this process will take, but I'm just glad we're off and running!

Happy 4th of July!

We had a wonderful day yesterday, full of friends, food, and feelings of independence! It all started at our 9:00 parade. Brady loved the firetrucks and the marching bands the most. Then we went to our neighbors for a barbecue in the afternoon, then we had our old neighbors over for dinner and fireworks viewing (the view from our new house couldn't get any better). It was a wonderful day! (and perfect that it was a Friday!)

My boys at the parade

This was a great high school band (not sure where they were from) that stopped right in front of us and performed about 5 songs. They even had great dancers!

This is the float from Brady's new school. Brady's handprint is on the blue sign as his class made that poster on Thursday.

This was a pilgrim band playing flutes and old drums (songs like Yankee Doodle) Very patriotic!

Brady on his favorite perch

All of us together

First Day of School

Today was a big morning in the Foster household as Brady headed off to school! He's going to The Woodlands Young Learners Academy, which is very near our house and was just opened at the beginning of the school year last year. We went in and took a couple pictures, and then his class was out at the playground, so we took him out there. He immediately ran to the equipment and began playing with the kids as if he'd been there a million times. We wondered whether or not we should disturb him to tell him good-bye, but we did call to him, and he ran right down, gave us each a kiss, waved, and then went right back to playing. We were so proud of him, but a little forlorn, too, at the thought of how big he's gotten so quickly!

Here he is in his uniform and backpack, all ready to go!

Here we have arrived and are just about to go find his room.

Pic from Father's Day breakfast at The Black Walnut

Brady fell asleep on the floor this weekend with his ham & cheese sandwich in his hand!

Here he is with his dinosaur outfit from Grammie and Papa (wish he could wear this to school instead of a uniform...oh well)

'Court!'

So one morning this week, we were just getting started for the day. I was still in bed, Brandon was getting ready for his shower, and Brady was playing at his train table. Suddenly, I heard this little voice shout, 'Court...where is the top of the mountain?' I thought I must have mis-heard, so I didn't answer. Then it came a second time, only louder and more insistent, 'COURT! Where is the top of the mountain?' It was Brady (of course). He's a clever little bugger...though he's never said my name before, apparently he's heard Brandon say it and made himself a mental note.

Sorry - no pics to accompany this little Foster Fun Fact.

Brady reads his first book!

This morning, Brady and I were playing, and suddenly I realized that he was sitting down 'reading' through a book that I haven't read to him in weeks! I was able to get some of it on video with my cell phone.

It's long (mostly for grandparents), so just shut it off when you get bored.

Holy Haircut Batman!!

Yesterday, Brady and I took the morning off to go get his haircut. We went back to Cartoon Cuts, which is the same place I took him last time. Unfortunately, this time we got the woman who is rumored to have recently butchered Brady's friend Lucas' hair. Before I knew it, the buzzer and the texturizing shears were zipping around, and there was a mound of beautiful sandy-colored hair on the floor. Un like me, Brady was a champ, he didn't move or make a peep through the whole thing.

I knew I had to keep my composure in front of him, but everytime I looked at Brady later in the day, I just wanted to cringe....how could I have let this happen!? Luckily, by this morning his new look had grown on me a bit, so I took a few pictures of him while he helped me in my office.

My aunt Marilyn used to always refer to getting a haircut as getting your ears lowered...I think Brady's ears might fall off if they got any lower!

Oh well...this is just preparation for when he's older and does something to radically change his appearance...he's still the same sweet kid even though he looks different!

Baseball game, Big Kid Bed...you name it!

Tonight is a big night in the Foster household...it's Brady's first night in his 'Big Boy Bed'! Brady hasn't climbed out of his crib yet, but he's just getting so big that the length of his body barely fits in there anymore! The other day I entered his room just as he had one leg swung up on the side. Upon seeing that, I decided that it was time to haul this 'Pier 1 Kids going out of business bargain big kid bed' out of the garage!

I asked Brady to stand next to the bed, but he let me know that he would prefer to show in pictures how a Big Kid Bed really works!

His face is red b/c our house is very hot today! I think we may have an A/C problem upstairs. I am very thankful that the downstairs is cool as that's where our bedrooms are. What are the odds that this would be the first time I've cooked dinner here since Brandon's been out of town for 1 1/2 weeks!

This is Brady last week. When I looked at him with his little Chuck shoes on and shorts, he looked like he was all grown up! I couldn't believe it! So I had to run and get the camera. In this picture, he's demonstrating how his sword from the rodeo works.

Here Brady is at Minute Maid Park (or Red Choo Choo Baseball as he calls it) when Uncle Nate and Auntie Erica brought us to the Astros game. It was such a fun night! Brady was a trooper and really enjoyed himself! The game started at 7:00, and since he goes to bed at 8:00, I figured it might be a short evening. We ended up staying until almost the 9th inning, and I think he could have stayed longer!

Here's Brady and daddy at the game. Even though Brandon's eyes are closed, Brady's smile was too cute for me to pass up posting this!

Random picture...I find myself strangely intrigued by giraffes lately. This is one that we saw while at the Zoo with Uncle Nate and Auntie Erica....look at that tongue!! (it's the long thing that ends with a yellow spot)

Here are all the Foster boys before our trip to the Blue Bell Creamery. We had so much fun with Nate and Erica, and not a day has passed that Brady hasn't mentioned, 'Uncle Nate?' He always says Nate's name kind of sounding like a question...maybe he's suspicious that there could be a whole 'nother person on this planet that looks so much like daddy!

Thanks for reading!

Magical Days

Brady and I have had a couple magical days, and I wanted to share them! Brandon is out of town for two weeks, which I always envision is going to be terrible, and in reality, Brady and I usually have a pretty good time.

Yesterday morning, when Brady woke up, I brought him into 'the fort' or my bed. We were snuggling (I was hoping he'd fall back asleep) when he asked me for 'big hugs', so I put both my arms around him. Then when we all arranged like that, he asked for 'more kisses', so I gave him a bunch of kisses all over his face. He kept asking for more and more kisses, and finally I said, 'why don't you give me more kisses', to which he promptly abliged. We did 'big hugs' and 'more kisses' for about the next half hour. Very sweet!

Then tonight we went out to eat together at Market Street. That's an area of The Woodlands where there are shops, restaurants, fountains, etc. After our yummy meal, we walked around a bit, and then went into a 'chocolate lounge' called Truffle. We each picked out one truffle and enjoyed them together. Brady loves chocolate, so this was a huge hit.

When we got home, we played ball in the backyard together until dusk. We just finished the day with a 'turtle nap' - me laying on Brady's turtle next to his bed until he falls asleep.

I could not be more fortunate.

Easter weekend at Lost Pines

We are definitely 2 now...Brady will no longer allow me to take pictures of him! The covering his face and turning away from the camera has started already. However, we were able to get a few little snaps over the course of our Easter Weekend at Lost Pines outside of Austin. We went with another family and had the most fantastic time! I would highly recommend this place. http://www.lostpines.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp

We arrived there Saturday at about lunch time and headed straight out to the pool.

Then that night there was s'mores roasting and a movie out on the lawn (complete with popcorn maker). Brandon had already established his horse/transport abilities in the pool that afternoon, and the boys didn't forget.

Here we go, back up to our room at the end of a wonderful, fun day.

The Easter Bunny was able to find us all the way in Austin!

Brady put on his gardening boots right away (and didn't take them off the whole day!)

Pictures

I have this thing that I don't want to post anything without photos. But, lots of fun/cute stuff happens that isn't always captured on film, so I should probably get over it.

Anyway, last week we met up with our favorite photographer, Kathleen Ryan, (ryanphotoart.com) and had Brady's 2 year pictures done. I had been telling Brady for days that our friend Kathleen was going to come over and take his picture, and that seemed to really work! The morning she was coming, I reminded him of what was about to take place, and he was extremely willing to get his face washed, hair wet down and combed, teeth brushed, etc. When she got here, it was as if she was his long lost friend - he was THRILLED to see her! Here's one little snap of our morning together

Snip-Its

A couple weeks ago (sorry I'm so behind), it was time to get Brady's hair cut for a second time. Brandon was out of town, so I did all this pumping up talk about a place called 'Snip-Its' while we ate dinner one night. After dinner, we went to the mall and excitedly approached 'Snip-Its'. The worst of the worst....it was closed!!!!!! So, after a heartbroken ride home and many tears, I explained to Brady that I would wrap up work early the next day so that we could go back to 'Snip-Its' before they closed. When we finally went the next day, Brady was very excited. That is until he realized what exactly was going to happen at this 'Snip-Its' place. He ended up sitting on my lap, but I was thrilled with the stylists at this place. They had one cutting his hair, and one entertaining him with bubbles, toys, etc. during the whole thing. He was actually able to get all of his haircut because the distraction lady was able to keep coming up with tricks for about 20 minutes. I would highly recommend 'Snip-Its' to anyone with small children in this area. Below are the results of our trip!


This photo above cracked me up. Somehow, he was able to get these two large suitcases out of the 'suitcase closet'...he hauled one of them to the garage door and told me, 'bye bye mama!'

Brady's Birthday

Happy Birthday Brady! We had a great day with lots of well wishes from several people. The best part of the day was that Grammie and Papa from Montana were here to celebrate with us!

These safety glasses came with Brady's new workbench. Surprisingly, he loves to wear them! I think they go especially well with his UND Fighting Sioux hockey jersey from Gramps and Nana in Minnesota.

Christmas 2007

It was an exciting holiday as we got to cook our meals in our new kitchen and enjoy the top floor of our house! Brady got numerous wonderful presents and is enjoying all of them.

Barnyard Animals and a Camel!!!

Each year, our church has a 'Come to Bethlehem' day for the kids on a Sunday morning. Brady and I attended this year and met some barnyard animals that would have been present in the manger when Jesus was born. We also got to ride on a camel, which he thoroughly enjoyed, and do some Christmas shopping!